News Corporation (NWS), often known simply as News Corp, is an American multinational mass media company, founded and controlled by Rupert Murdoch in 1980. Globally recognized, the company's operations span across multiple continents including North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
News Corp is headquartered in New York City but is incorporated in Delaware. Its wide range of media properties includes cable network programming, digital real estate services, book publishing, satellite TV, and much more. Evidently, its influence cuts across different sectors of media.
News Corp B (NWS) refers to the Class B shares of this media conglomerate, which are offered publicly for trading in the stock market. Unlike Class A shares which also exist, Class B shares offer voting rights providing shareholders with a say in the company's governance.
One of the well-known entities under the umbrella of News Corp is The Wall Street Journal, which is inarguably one of the most esteemed financial publications worldwide. Other prestigious titles under its portfolio include The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, and The Australian. Its subsidiary, HarperCollins, is a globally renowned book publishing company, housing several award-winning authors.
News Corp's digital real estate services include brands such as Move, Realtor.com, and realestate.com.au, which are leading providers of online real estate services. Its pay-TV presence is established through Foxtel, a dominant player in the Australian subscription television market.
However, News Corp's journey hasn’t been without controversy and crises. The company was embroiled in a major phone-hacking scandal in 2011 involving News of the World, leading to its closure. This also resulted in the bifurcation of News Corp into two separately listed companies in 2013: News Corporation, focused on newspapers and publishing, and 21st Century Fox, which managed the TV and film assets.
Today, the company continues to be a pivotal player in the media industry, providing news and related content to millions of consumers globally. While the media landscape continues to evolve with rising digital transformations, News Corp is persistently adapting its strategy to remain relevant and impactful.